Help: diesel engine question - hard to start

[CookMySock]

Ok I'm kinda stuck here. Any diesel mechanics got any ideas?

80's LD28 is really hard to start. I wind it over for about 3 seconds, then pre-heat for 12-15 seconds, then start while holding the heaters, and wind it for for a full ten seconds and it slowwwwwly picks up and runs on a few cylinders and then up she goes, then idles perfectly.

Heaters draw about 120A settling down to about 50A.


TIA,
Steve

[JimO]

im not a mechanic but usually slow starting means glowplugs are playing up

[Robbo]

What jimjim said. Throw a new set of glow plugs in and this will probably solve it. If not then check the glow plug relay and the voltage at the plugs and make sure all the contacts are clean.
Cheers

[FROSTY:Me]

Steve --try this lil trick. DO NOT crank the engine over. turn on the glow plugs till the light goes out then wait 3 seconds.Turn the key off again then straight away back on again. Again let the light go out and wait 3 secs.do this one more time. THEN crank her into life.
Bet it starts right away

[FROSTY:Me]

2 causes of the actual problem--a couple of farked glowies and batterys getting a bit sad

[Motu]

LD28 usually has a push button glow - you need to glow for at least 30 sec....count them,it's a long,long time.Keep the glow going while cranking,and as it starts up....you are the afterglow.If it's still hard to start (they are,it's old tech) then look at the glow plugs....then a compression test.

[CookMySock]

Thanks guys. I'm wondering about the fuel hand-primer pump. If it was backflowing into the fuel tank would it empty and unprime the injector pump?

Steve

[CookMySock]

Yep, three of six glowplugs were totally jiggered. I pulled them all out and tested them, three were completely dead.. Gee glowplugs get red flamin hot.. fark, they look light the element on the stove on high..

Ten second preheat and it starts effortlessly and idles cleanly now. Thanks guys.

Steve